Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School

Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School Inspection report

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123473 Unique Reference Number Telford and Wrekin Local Authority 292679 Inspection number 7 °8 November 2007 Inspection dates Graham Sims Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Junior Type of school Voluntary controlled School category 7 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 167 School The governing body Appropriate authority David Wright Chair Sandra Osman Headteacher 4 February 2002 Date of previous school inspection Leonard Close School address Winifreds Drive Donnington Telford TF2 8BH 01952 386660 Telephone number 01952 386664 Fax number

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7-11 Age group 7 °8 November 2007 Inspection dates 292679 Inspection number .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors

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Description of the school

Donnington Wood Junior School is a voluntary controlled Church of England school. The great majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is well above the national average. Pupils typically join the school having reached broadly average standards in their national tests at the end of Year 2, although the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well above the national average.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007

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Grade: 2

The dynamic and enthusiastic leadership of the headteacher has resulted in significant improvement over the last three years at Donnington Wood, and the school is now providing pupils with a good education. National test results were very low when she joined in 2004 but have improved markedly, so that results in 2007 were above the national average in English and broadly average in mathematics and science. Pupils' behaviour has also improved significantly and is now good. The headteacher has inspired a very good team spirit amongst the staff, who show a real commitment to making the school even better and good capacity for further improvement. Although there is some variation in the quality of the teaching, good teaching in most classes is enabling pupils to make good progress overall and to achieve well. Many pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities have made particularly good progress because of the

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Grade: 2

well-organised and good-quality support provided by the school's capable and experienced teaching assistants and the work of focus groups undertaken by the class teachers. Initiatives to improve pupils' reading skills and the quality of their writing have been particularly successful. While satisfactory, pupils' progress in mathematics has not been quite as good, as some of the teaching is still not challenging enough and work is not always matched accurately to pupils' needs. The school's care, guidance and support are good and result in pupils' good personal development and well-being. Aspects of pastoral care are outstanding. One parent, for example, said that the care provided for her child had been positively life changing. The work of the learning mentor has helped some of the school's most vulnerable pupils and others to develop self-esteem and a positive approach to their education. Good provision for physical education,

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Grade: 2

recent acquisition of 'Healthy School' status and good partnership with various organisations ensure that pupils develop a good understanding of how to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to keep themselves safe. Pupils contribute well to the life of the school and the wider community, for example, through acting as a playground buddy, supporting those less fortunate than themselves through charitable work or visiting elderly residents in a local home. The school provides a good curriculum with plenty of enrichment through visits to places of interest, visitors to the school, special activity weeks, as well as sports and musical activities. The curriculum for English, mathematics and science is well balanced, well planned and wide ranging, but the range of work in history and geography in most classes is limited, often unchallenging and does not support the development of basic literacy and numeracy skills.

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Grade: 2

Teachers provide good guidance for pupils during lessons and monitor their progress well through half-termly assessments. However, the marking of pupils work provides very little guidance on what pupils have done well or what they need to do to improve. The school is led and managed well. Governors are knowledgeable and supportive, yet also challenging. Although some staff have relatively little leadership experience, members of the senior management team and subject coordinators are developing their roles well and helping to provide further impetus for improvement. The staff's commitment to the pupils' welfare, the improving quality of pupils' work and the pupils' good spiritual, moral, social and cultural development ensure that they are well prepared for the next stage of their education and the later world of work. 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Provide pupils with clearer guidance on what they have done well and what they need to improve when marking their work. ■ Ensure that the quality of teaching and learning is consistently good in all classes and sufficiently challenging for all pupils, particularly in mathematics. ■ Improve the curriculum for history and geography and ensure that these and other subjects contribute to and consolidate the development of basic skills in literacy and numeracy.

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Grade: 2

Standards on entry to the school have been typically average, but have been below average for the last two intakes. The school's assessments show that there has been some underachievement in previous years in Year 3, but pupils have made good progress in recent years and standards have risen markedly. Pupils are now achieving well. Pupils make particularly good progress in English, where standards have risen from well below average to above average. Standards in mathematics and science are broadly average. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve particularly well. In 2007, they achieved better results in English, mathematics and science than similar pupils nationally. The school's various support groups are particularly effective in helping pupils who are falling behind to make rapid progress and to catch up with their peers.

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Grade: 2

The welcoming and friendly ethos of the school reflects the good personal development of the pupils, which has shown significant improvement in recent years. Pupils are polite and courteous and they behave well in lessons and around the school. They have a good sense of right and wrong and respect the views of others. The great majority of pupils enjoy school, respond well to the staff and participate enthusiastically in lessons. They work well together, either with partners or in small groups. They willingly take on responsibilities, and those who act as playground buddies or serve on the school council make a good contribution to the smooth running of the school. Although pupils say that there is still some bullying, they have confidence that teachers will sort out any problems and they feel safe and secure within the school environment. The level of attendance is now broadly average, having improved as a result of

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Grade: 2

Rigorous monitoring and in-service training have improved teachers' planning, the organisation of teaching groups and the overall quality of teaching, with the result that pupils are now learning well. The teaching of English is particularly good. Group reading sessions are well organised and purposeful, and target setting is highly effective. There is still some inconsistency elsewhere, for example, in the teaching of mathematics, where there is not always enough challenge for some pupils, and not enough attention is given to the presentation of pupils' work. Staff relate well to the pupils and establish good working environments within their 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007 classrooms. They use a good variety of teaching methods, make good use of information and communication technology and contribute well to pupils' personal development through

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Grade: 2

encouraging paired discussions and self-assessment. The liaison between teachers and teaching assistants is excellent. The assistants make very good use of their time and are highly effective in working with small groups of pupils. Some groups make outstanding progress as a result. Teachers provide clear learning objectives, but do not always reinforce or consolidate previous learning sufficiently.

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Grade: 2

The school has worked effectively to improve the curricular opportunities offered to the pupils. A good variety of well-supported extra-curricular activities at lunchtime and after school and a wide range of visits and visitors enrich pupils' learning. Special events, such as arts week, the school choir and participation in concerts help to develop the pupils' self-esteem and confidence well. Good attention is given to meeting the needs of those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and also to those who have specific gifts or talents. Both groups do well as a result. Involvement in various sports initiatives and activities is not only enjoyed by the pupils but helps them to lead healthy lives. House-group activities help pupils to understand the importance of working as a team as they work together in mixed-age groups. Good provision for personal, social and health education has a positive impact on pupils' personal development. The

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Grade: 2

curriculum for English has improved significantly, but opportunities are missed to develop and consolidate pupils' literacy and numeracy skills through work undertaken in other subjects. The curriculum for history and geography lacks sufficient depth in most classes.

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Grade: 2

The care, guidance and support provided by staff are significant strengths which help to ensure equality of opportunity for all pupils and have done much to improve the self-esteem and confidence of pupils, particularly those who are vulnerable and those who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Before and after school provision is well organised and enjoyed by the pupils who attend. Safeguarding procedures are robust, risk assessments are carried out effectively and the school's security has improved. It is now good. Staff keep a careful check on pupils' progress and use the information well to identify pupils who need additional help. While guidance given to pupils in class is good, the marking of pupils' work is not developmental enough. It does not give pupils sufficient guidance on what they have done well or what they need to improve, and not enough time is given for pupils to reflect on or improve their work.

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Grade: 2

The headteacher has had a major impact on the school's development over the last three years. She has a good understanding of what still needs to be done and provides clear direction for staff and pupils. She has been particularly successful in developing the potential of her staff, ensuring good teamwork and building a common sense of purpose. Staff acknowledge that she has had a profound impact on improving pupils' behaviour and that she has inspired staff to enjoy their teaching and to develop new skills and expertise. The senior management team and subject leaders make up in enthusiasm what they lack in experience as they become 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007 increasingly effective in monitoring and evaluating various aspects of the school's work. Governors involve themselves well in the life of the school. Since the previous inspection, they

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Grade: 2

have made important strategic decisions about the school's leadership which have had a positive impact on the school's development. The target-setting process is becoming more rigorous, and targets for the future are suitably challenging. While the school collects a good range of data, it is not collated in a way which allows quick and easy analysis, and staff are not yet sufficiently involved in accounting for the progress of their pupils. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 3 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 How well learners enjoy their education 3 The attendance of learners 2 The behaviour of learners 2 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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and interests of learners?

2 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

8 November 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Donnington Wood C of E Junior School, Telford TF2 8BH My colleague and I enjoyed our recent visit to your school and would like to thank you for your welcome and for talking to us. You think that you go to a good school, and we agree with you.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ These are the main things we found out during the inspection.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are making good progress in your work, particularly in English.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are polite and well behaved, and you work well with one another.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You enjoy coming to school, particularly when there are special events or activities, and you participate well in lessons. ■ You have a good understanding of what you need to do to keep yourselves safe and lead healthy lifestyles. ■ The quality of the teaching is good, although it does vary from class to class.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The teaching assistants and learning mentor provide really good help and support for those of you who work with them. ■ The school provides you with a good variety of interesting activities.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The staff take good care of you and check your progress regularly and carefully.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The headteacher leads the school very well and all staff and governors have worked hard to improve the school over the last few years.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ To help the school become even better, we have asked the staff to:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ give you clearer guidance when marking your work to show you what you have done well and what you need to improve ■ ensure that the teaching is equally as good in all classes, and that you are all given sufficiently challenging work in mathematics ■ help you to develop your literacy and numeracy skills and to discover more when undertaking your topic work in history and geography. You can help make Donnington Wood even better by continuing to try your hardest and taking note of the advice your teachers give you about how to improve your work. We wish each one of you every success in your future education. Yours sincerely Mr Graham Sims Lead inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Donnington Wood CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, 7 °8 November 2007

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Annex B

Inspection of Donnington Wood C of E Junior School, Telford TF2 8BH

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Annex B

My colleague and I enjoyed our recent visit to your school and would like to thank you for your welcome and for talking to us. You think that you go to a good school, and we agree with you.

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Annex B

These are the main things we found out during the inspection. • You are making good progress in your work, particularly in English. • You are polite and well behaved, and you work well with one another. • You enjoy coming to school, particularly when there are special events or activities, and you participate well in lessons. • You have a good understanding of what you need to do to keep yourselves safe and lead healthy lifestyles. • The quality of the teaching is good, although it does vary from class to class. • The teaching assistants and learning mentor provide really good help and support for those of you who work with them. • The school provides you with a good variety of interesting activities. • The staff take good care of you and check your progress regularly and carefully. • The headteacher leads the school very well and all staff and governors have worked hard to improve the school over the last few years.

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Annex B

To help the school become even better, we have asked the staff to: • give you clearer guidance when marking your work to show you what you have done well and what you need to improve • ensure that the teaching is equally as good in all classes, and that you are all given sufficiently challenging work in mathematics • help you to develop your literacy and numeracy skills and to discover more when undertaking your topic work in history and geography.

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Annex B

You can help make Donnington Wood even better by continuing to try your hardest and taking note of the advice your teachers give you about how to improve your work. We wish each one of you every success in your future education.

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